Kpoku on the Demands of Top 14 Rugby and His Test Future

Junior Kpoku made the move from Exeter to the formidable Parisian club Racing 92 in October 2023. Details for an upcoming European Champions Cup match feature Sale against Racing 92, scheduled for Friday, 13 December, with a 20:00 GMT kick-off at Salford Community Stadium. Coverage will be available via live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, alongside live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Upon his arrival in France at the age of 18, Junior Kpoku encountered a profound and sudden rugby culture shock. The Racing 92 forward conveyed to BBC Sport that “Everything you do in Top 14 is a dogfight.” He further characterized it, stating, “It’s like street-fight rugby. Let’s put it like that.” Kpoku elaborated on the contrast, explaining, “In the UK, it is physical, of course, but you’re not hitting every ruck, you’re not hitting anyone out the blue.” He added, “You’re not getting hit. You’re not getting shouldered, you’re not getting elbows to the face.” He concluded by saying, “I came out here not being ‘a dog’ and that really shocked me.” The preceding weekend highlighted an additional distinction between English and French club rugby. Excluding a loss by a second-string Castres team to Northampton, French clubs dominated the remaining three cross-Channel Champions Cup fixtures. Both Bath and Leicester, who were performing strongly in the Premiership, had high expectations but secured only a bonus point from their encounters with French adversaries. France has produced the last four European champions, underscoring the Top 14’s leading position in European club rugby. Kpoku, who stands 6ft 8in tall and weighs over 18st, is flourishing amidst the demanding physical play and elevated standards. Racing currently holds eighth place in the early-season Top 14 standings. Kpoku, a 19-year-old Londoner capable of playing as a blindside flanker or second row, has secured a starting position in eight of Racing’s eleven league matches. He has established himself as a primary choice within a squad that includes French internationals Cameron Woki and Romain Taofifenua, as well as Wales’ Will Rowlands. Kpoku further stated, “At the start of the season, I did not expect to be starting over some of the big names we have at Racing,” adding, “But I was working so hard because I was hungry to start.” Kpoku is part of a notable English contingent within the Racing dressing room. Owen Farrell, Henry Arundell, and former Sale centre Sam James have all relocated to Paris. The team is led by former England coach Stuart Lancaster, with Paul ‘Bobby’ Stridgeon managing fitness, and Tom Whitford, an experienced Top 14 team manager known for assisting Jonny Wilkinson’s integration into Toulon’s ‘galacticos’, handling behind-the-scenes operations. Kpoku possesses a unique advantage over his English teammates, having been born in Newham to Congolese parents and fluent in French since childhood. His older twin brothers, Joel and Jonathan, are already playing rugby in France for Pau and second-tier Albi, respectively. A contributing factor to Junior’s transfer from Exeter to Racing was the desire to be closer to his ailing father. Given Stuart Lancaster’s ongoing language acquisition and the diverse international composition of the squad, Kpoku serves as the primary on-pitch translator, in addition to his role as a formidable back-five player. His successful integration has caused some unease among observers in England. As he is playing abroad and thus ineligible for Steve Borthwick’s England squad, the possibility of Kpoku representing France is still a consideration. To qualify for France, Kpoku would need to be registered with a French club for a period of five years. This is a protracted process, which Kpoku initiated early. Theoretically, he would become eligible in autumn 2028, at which point he would be 23 years old. However, Kpoku indicates that, in practical terms, this scenario is improbable. Kpoku was a standout performer for the England under-20 team that decisively defeated France in the final of their age-grade World Cup during the summer. He stated, “At this point of time, I would say France is not really what I want to pursue because it’s not my country.” He further expressed, “I want to represent my own country where I was born and raised and where my family was born and raised.” He played a crucial role in England’s Under-20 World Cup victory in the summer, showcasing powerful performances and evident passion, including enthusiastically singing the anthem. The future remains to be seen, though not in the immediate term. Although Kpoku was reportedly under consideration for one of the few remaining external enhanced England contracts – an agreement that would entail his return to England and place him prominently in Test selection discussions – he has instead prolonged his contract with Racing until summer 2027, just months prior to the next Rugby World Cup. He added, “Of course I’ve spoken to people from the UK about my future, but at the moment I am just staying focused at Racing and getting better as a rugby player so I can hopefully become that international rugby player in the future.” The upcoming Friday fixture will mark another progression towards this objective, as Kpoku is set to return to England to make his Champions Cup debut in an away match against Sale. He expressed his anticipation, stating, “I can’t wait for it, can’t wait.” He continued, “It’s going to be a tough challenge, of course, but I think we are going to be ready for the fight.” Defeating Sale would represent a significant declaration from the three-time runners-up and the young English player within their ranks.